Dubai police said on Twitter that they had resolved the issue in less than an hour after talking with the workers. Riot police were called in but no arrests were made, according to the United Arab Emirates-based newspaper the National.

Such protests are unusual due to the kafala, or sponsorship, system for workers in the Gulf, which ties their legal status to a sponsoring employer, and Tuesday’s stand by the labourers was even more remarkable for its location on Financial Centre Road.

The construction site of Emaar’s Fountain Views development is nestled there, between the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, and The Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest malls both developed by Emaar. The downtown area is a tourist destination and one of the most upscale, pristine neighbourhoods in Dubai.

The protest highlighted the stark wealth gap between the area’s visitors and residents and the poor workers building it all, who hail mostly from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.